UNICEF's Manager for Social Policy at the Namibia Country Office, Jecob Nyamadzwao, says cash benefits for disability grants in many countries cannot cover the basic expenses of people with disabilities, let alone extra costs.
Nyamadzawo shared these sentiments at a Disability Budget Analysis and Inception meeting in the capital.
The government recently increased the disability grant to N$1,300, a move seen as a relief by many.
UNICEF conducts an annual routine exercise to examine how the national budget addresses and meets the needs of specific groups or sectors.
During the meeting, the focus was on the budget allocation for people with disabilities.
The allocated funds for individuals with disabilities aim to translate plans and strategies into actionable steps for improved socio-economic outcomes.
However, the question remains: Is the allocated share sufficient to meet the needs of the disabled community?
"Persons with disabilities have higher health care needs, face more barriers to access, and are 50% more likely to face catastrophic health expenditures. Persons with disabilities and their families face a wide diversity of disability-related costs to achieve an equal standard of living and participation. For instance, it costs 80% more to raise a child with a disability in the Philippines and 4–15 times more to achieve equal participation in South Africa," said Nyamadzwao.
He expresses confidence that the work carried out by UNICEF in the country will be capable of providing a clear understanding of the situation of people with disabilities in Namibia.
This work will involve benchmarking against international perspectives and best practises.
"At UNICEF, we believe that most of the socio-economic challenges faced by children, households, and people with disabilities can be traced back to public finances. If public resources are inadequate, inequitable, or inefficiently spent, these are common issues that contribute to the challenges that society faces."
Dr. Omu Kakujaha-Matundu, an economist, also delivered a brief presentation on the impact of the national budget on people with disabilities.